$Unique_ID{BRK01981}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Women are at Risk for Heart Attacks too}
$Subject{woman Women female females Risk risks hazard hazards danger dangers
Heart attack Attacks disease diseases man men male males hormone hormones die
died dead death deaths cardiovascular breast cancer cancers lung stroke
strokes protect protecting protection estrogen premenopause premenopausal
angina prevent preventing prevention Exercise exercises smoke Smoking
cigarette cigarettes chest pain pains}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Complications of Atherosclerosis*0009401.scf
Exercise has Overall Benefits*0003209.scf
Exercise Improves Circulation*0003207.scf
Exercise Increases Metabolism*0003205.scf
Exercise Lowers Triglycerides and Raises HDL*0003203.scf
Exercise Strengthens the Heart*0003202.scf
HDL Transports Cholesterol Back to the Liver*0002702.scf
How Cholesterol Levels Affect the Arteries*0002701.scf
Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis*0009302.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Women are at Risk for Heart Attacks too


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION:  I guess I have always thought my husband was more likely to suffer
a heart attack than I was.  Lately the papers say that is not so, and that I
might have more to worry about than he ever did.  Why didn't my doctor ever
talk to me about this, and is there anything I should know about it now?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER:  For many years, research showed that heart disease was a man's
disease, and that women were protected from the threat of heart disease by
their hormones.  Of course, some of the facts that we were working with were
derived from investigations in which only men were considered, and from drug
studies in which only men were used.  The numbers we are looking at now paint
a very different picture.  More than 500,000 American women die each year from
cardiovascular disease, about half (244,000) are caused by a heart attacks.
Compare that to 44,500 annual deaths brought about by breast cancer, 51,000
from lung cancer and 90,000 from stroke and you realize that cardiovascular
disease is now identified as the leading cause of death in American women.
     However, the disease as seen in women is a bit different than the
clinical picture in men.  Women tend to be older than men when they do have
their first attack, a fact that is associated by the protection that estrogen
(female hormone) does provide the premenopausal woman.  Women tend to begin
with chest pain (angina) rather than a full blown heart attack, and so are
less likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly when compared to men.  But when
the first real heart attack does occur, women are less likely to survive than
men, and more likely to die within one year of the attack.  For unknown
reasons, women seem to have a silent heart attack more frequently than men,
and so are less likely to begin the investigations that lead to treatment than
men are.
     You, as well as all women, should begin to take heart attacks and their
prevention very seriously, and that at a young age.  Exercise is still a great
way of changing the odds in your favor, yet women are less likely to
participate in a regular program.  Smoking is a "no-no" for all Americans.
And take any chest pain seriously, seeking help at its first appearance.
Remember, the health rules you read about are for your information and
benefit.  They can only help though if you follow them.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.